A total of 435 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Kenya after 24 more people were diagnosed with the disease out of 1,195 tested samples in the past 24 hours. 17 of the patients are in Nairobi-7 from Kawangware and 10 from Eastleigh- 5 are in Mombasa and 2 are from Migori in Kuria West, the 2 have a recent history of travel from Tanzania. 1 more patient from Mombasa has died, with Coronavirus fatalities now at 22 and 2 more have been discharged, with the number of recoveries at 152.
Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi has brought attention to the fact that the Coronavirus is now firmly in the community, after 7 of the Kawangware cases were picked up through the targeted mass testing in the area which began on Friday. Kawangware now has 20 cases, while Eastleigh has 21 cases. She said a surge of numbers is expected and focus must shift on the matter of quarantine systems, with home based care quarantine mechanisms to be reviewed by the government and guidelines on how it’s done will be issued, “The success of the home based care is highly pegged on our discipline as Kenyans and on cooperation in terms of ensuring we actually adhere to these guidelines,” she said.
However, the CAS expressed concern with how Kenyans are going back to their normal businesses, yet the Coronavirus is still prevalent. She said the businesses which will fail to follow the laid down by the government will be closed, “This is actually a marathon and therefore we must be psychologically prepared for it,” she said.
On his part, Health DG Dr. Patrick Amoth said the number of positive patients is set to rise as the targeted mass testing continues and more quarantine facilities are required, “We are not out of the woods yet,” he said. He added that 214 patients are receiving treatment in different hospitals from the Coastal region to Western Kenya, and one patient is in critical condition.